Christopher T. Varner

Chris Varner is a member of the firm and practices in the area of civil litigation in state and federal courts. He is experienced in litigation of highly complex business matters and class actions, and he has represented several Fortune 500 companies on various matters. Chris has also prosecuted and defended a number of serious personal injury cases, including cases involving premises liability and products liability, and has experience representing insurers in declaratory judgment actions. Furthermore, he has experience in the defense of professional liability actions.

In addition to his trial work, Chris has argued before the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In 2009, Chris was identified as a "Rising Star" by Mid-South Super Lawyers.

Chris is also active in the legal community in other ways. He has served as a mock trial coach for local high schools and has also regularly performed volunteer legal services for clients referred by Legal Aid of East Tennessee, receiving a commendation from LAET in May 2006 and serving on the Leadership Committee for the LAET Annual Campaign for Justice in 2004 and 2006. In June 2008, Chris was elected to the Board of Governors of the Tennessee Bar Association and was re-elected in 2009, and Chris is also currently serving as Treasurer of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Chris also previously served on the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association in 2006-07, served on the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2008, and served as a Tennessee Bar Association representative on the Bench/Bar Relations Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference from 2001 to 2008 (Chair, 2006-07). Chris was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association's Leadership Law Class of 2005, was a program day chair for the Class of 2006, and has been a member of the Leadership Law Steering Committee since 2007, which he will co-chair in 2011. In addition, Chris is a member of the Justices Brock and Cooper American Inn of Court.

Chris is married to another member of the firm, Deborah Lowe Varner, and they have two children, Henry and Anna. Chris is a member of First-Centenary United Methodist Church.

Education: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, B.A. (with honors) in Religious Studies 1993; University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D. 1996

Admissions: Tennessee, Georgia, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Legal Associations: Chattanooga Bar Association (Board of Governors, 2006-07); Tennessee Bar Association (Representative to Bench-Bar Relations Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, 2001-08 (Chair, 2006-07); Leadership Law (Class of 2005; Steering Committee, 2007-); Board of Governors, 2008- ); American Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association, Federal Bar Association (Chattanooga Chapter Board of Governors (2008), Treasurer (2009-); Justices Brock and Cooper American Inn of Court (2001-).

Community Legal Service: Pro bono volunteer, Legal Aid of East Tennessee